Today the cuts began at The News Journal, as it did across Gannett. So far, we have lost 13 of our coworkers, close friends and even family members. The people who are departing have seen and done it all.
We have edited stories together, designed pages together, written A1 copy together, taken photos together, written headlines together. We have busted our behinds trying to make this the best newspaper in the country, worked countless hours, written countless stories, taken countless photos.
And it counted for nothing, in the end. None of us were safe.
As I write this, the count stands at 13. That may increase tomorrow. As of now, the newsroom has accounted for nearly half of all the layoffs in the building.
I hope this blog can be a place for people to keep in touch after they depart, and for those who remain to connect with friends and former colleagues. Please feel free to post your comments, share your memories, provide your contact information.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who lost their jobs today. We especially are thinking and praying for
Dorothy Lindstrom, night copy desk
Walt McDermott, day copy desk
Sara Liederbach, designer
Scott Nathan, photographer
Carla Varisco-Williams, photographer
Kevin Noonan, sports
Kristian Pope, sports
Tom Coburn, sports
Gary Haber, business
Al Kemp, metro
Chris Yasiejko, features
Rita Truschel, editorial
Please also post your thoughts about what people who remain can do for those who have left. Some of those on this list will be getting 26 weeks severance; others just one, which isn't a cushion at all. Job leads especially appreciated.
2 comments:
My heart goes out to those who were laid off. I worked at TNJ for several years and know many on the list. Tom Coburn was the sports copy chief when I was there and taught me everything I knew about copy editing; I also knew Kevin Noonan and highly enjoyed his company.
Godspeed and God bless to you all; the state of our industry saddens me.
- Jenn (Javier) de la Fuente,
News Journal sports, 2001-05
A lot of things come to mind:
The story of the sale of TNJ to Gannett rather than the Washington Post--reported by Rita Farrell long ago.
Al Mascitti's emissions today on his WDEL radio show--the sad (for society) story of pure-bottom-line newspapering.
The endless smears and lies from the Editorial Board--I sure can't sympathize with any of them.
OH well, good luck to all those now needing new jobs.....
Alan Muller
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